Faithfully Yours Part 5: A Time in the Affairs of Witches   Chapter 38 "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."   Oscar Wilde

The family chose to go its separate ways that night. Leo orbed off to lose himself at the Greek National Library looking for philosophical truths he said but found himself instead reading Greek tragic plays that all seemed to be built around the tragic consequences of illicit love.

Piper sat down to look at the bookwork for P3 which she had been ignoring since Glock arrived. She sat in Cole's corner so she could see the light from where Glock as smoking in the garden.

Paige spent a concerned time reading the Book of Shadows about consequences of misusing magic powers and became more worried the more she read.

Phoebe in high dudgeon remembered she was mother and aunt and protectively took on bath times and bed time stories. She dismissing Cole's offer of help and then snarling at him when he accepted her rejection, saying he had work to do anyway. He promised the kids he would come back later to say good night. As he went away Phoebe had a strong panic that she really had gone too far and that there was a limit to 'no matter what she did'.

She called "Cole."

"What "he said turning around.

"I…" she said.

"I really do have work" he said and she knew he was not lying but he was not making an effort to damn his work for her either.  Cole went downstairs while Phoebe sucked her lip then turned back to the children, wincing as a very grizzly Patsy pulled a face and spat bubbles.

Finding Piper in his corner, Cole moved into the living room kicking off shoes, so he could put his feet on the table to work on libel for Correja the scandal magazine publisher, and more or less distracted himself until the door bell rang ferociously for a few seconds.  Then the front door was swung open by someone who clearly knew the family habits of leaving it unlocked and Victor came into the manor, slightly the worse for wear from alcohol with his clothes in disarray and his hair standing one end. He also needed a shave.

"Hi" said Cole "You okay."

"Huh" said Victor.

"Daddy" said Piper coming into the hall. "You okay.'

"Huh" said Victor swaying slightly on his feet.

'"Daddy" said Piper exchanging glances with Cole.

"Maybe I should call Margaret" Cole said

"Huh" said Victor.

"Daddy" said Piper both exasperated and concerned.

"Margaret's not home" Victor slurred." so I did not want... to be... I .. I came here."

"I'll leave you to it" said Cole hastily going back to the parlour, while the glare Piper sent in his direction should have drilled holes in his back.

"Phoebe" roared Piper. After a second yelling of her name Phoebe came to the top of the stairs.

"Daddy" Phoebe said as she took in Victor's condition.

"Margaret wasn't home" Victor repeated as Piper and Phoebe exchanged glances.

"Want some coffee" Piper asked ushering Victor toward the kitchen.

"I have to just finish reading a story" Phoebe said and Piper sent another filthy glare in Phoebe's direction. "I want to stay with Patsy until he gets to sleep."

Piper swallowed hard as she pushed Victor toward the kitchen.

Cole continued working, ignoring voices coming form the kitchen and phrases such as "when a man loves a woman" and "anything, I'd do anything for that woman". And" I thought it was for a lifetime". And  "I thought we would grow old together" while Piper muttered yes daddy. Then things went quiet.

Paige came down apparently having been warned by Phoebe that Victor was there, because she went into the kitchen and Cole heard her with a determined cheerfulness say hello to Victor.

Then another round "I loved that woman, I would do anything" started and Paige joined in with 'yes Victor's' interspersed with 'yes daddy's' and once or twice a no victor or a no daddy.

Leo arrived home shortly after. He frowned when Cole told him Victor was there in a less than happy state but manfully went into the kitchen. Cole could hear his voice joining the yes Victor chorus. Cole huddled over the deposition papers, hoping nothing would happen to make him go anywhere near the kitchen.

Finally he was interrupted again by the doorbell ringing, long and impatiently.

Cole irritated waited for some-one to open the front door but Phoebe remained upstairs and the chorus of "yes daddy, yes Victor" continued in the kitchen. He could see the petite figure behind the door leaning heavily on the bell.  Muttering to himself he went to the door cursing as he banged a bare toe on a toy that one of the kids had left in the hall and pulled his shirt loose as he hoped around.  He hopped to the door muttering and cursing while trying to tuck his shirt into his pants

Cole opened the door to find Margaret his step mother in law her leaning on the door bell. Her hair was carefully styled into a tangle, her makeup perfect and she was wearing a tight short skirt and a sequined top that slide over one shoulder and revealed her breasts bulging at an impossible angle. She had on stiletto heels so high, her head came to the top of his chin and she looked up at him with a catlike smile that would have been sexy if any of the skin on her face could move.

"Cole" Margaret breathed huskily and reached up to kiss him, which he avoided by stepping back to open the door further. Margaret's eye's glowed amorously and she licked her lips and all but purred. Cole well able to recognise the signs of woman affected by the spite plague, drew his breath in irritably and inwardly cursed that he had not destroyed the race of spites when as the Source, he had the chance. He did not need to have Phoebe's premonition power to know a spite amped Margaret was trouble.

"Margaret" he said eyeing her suspiciously as she leaned toward him "Victor is in the kitchen" he said pointedly as he stepped further backward awkwardly trying to avoid her.

She tottered in to the hall sachaying to a stop in front of Cole "Is he?" she asked carelessly. She stopped turned to Cole "You're here "she slurred looking down to eye the gap where Cole's shirt had come out of his pants

'Victor's in the kitchen." Cole repeated and stepped further away into the parlour to let Margaret move past him. He realised immediately this was a mistake because she tottered after him cornering him against the sofa.

"I don't want Victor" she purred "I want you."

"I don't want you" he said bluntly.

"Darling" she said reaching up to catch his hair "You know longer have to pretend.'

"Pretend I like you" Cole bit out "Good."

"Darling such a joker" Margaret whispered "I need to talk to you " she breathed putting her hand on his shirt, undoing a button and twirling the dark hair on his chest.

He put his hand on hers to push it away and she caught it.

"I need some professional advice" Margaret purred "legal advice"

"About what?" said Cole trying to extract himself from the hand Margaret had slipped around him and to rest firmly on his behind, as well as avoid her rubbing herself against his crotch, witch was nearly impossible as he was jammed against the sofa.

"Divorce" said Margaret"

"It's easy "said Cole trying to extract himself and considering shimmering" its California. Fifty percent of the property earned during the marriage."

"I want all the property acquired" she purred her tongue between her lips. " And before the marriage. His I mean as well as mine. Which makes it o convenient you're such an arsehole lawyer. We're so alike" she whispered huskily.

"I can't help you Margaret "Cole said firmly, as firmly as he could considering she had him total cornered. "I could not and would not do anything that could hurt Victor or Phoebe. You want a lawyer you just will have to go to somewhere else.

"I want a lawyer 'Margaret slurred between her teeth". She licked her lips  "And you're the one that I want."

"Margaret" said Cole putting his hands in her shoulders to lift her away. This was also mistake because she managed to pull him half down on one of the chairs her skirt riding high above up as she managed to lift one leg and wrap it around him, rubbing it against him.

Cole tried to pull free but she had one hand caught in his hair and another inside his belt

"You want a woman Cole" she whispered " a woman who can take you places. A woman who can appreciate a real man. You're wasted on that stupid little girl you married."

"I love Phoebe" Cole started to breath trying to extricate himself.

"A man doing the decent"thing even by an undeserving spoilt whimpering little brat like Phoebe is really sexy. "Margaret breathed "I saw what you went through even if the kid wasn't yours marrying her like that."

"Margaret" said Cole getting out from under her and finding she was still attached to him as he stood up. She had curling one stilettos heeled foot around his knee and hooking it so he could not take a step without her in any direction. She hung firmly to his hair and pushed her free hand further down his pants and they both nearly fell as he tried to pull loose.

"I want you" she purred. "I am a woman who knows what she wants.  Do you know what I can do for you? A man like you, a lawyer like you wasted in a piddly little office. Living like a poor cousin in this house off their charity" Margaret took a deep breath "You're beautiful" she purred" the most beautiful man I ever saw. I knew from the first I saw you, you were the man I dreamed of, the man I wanted. Why do you think I stayed with Victor?" she said.

"I don't know" said Cole trying to extricate himself and testing how much force he was going to have to use, which made Margaret hang on harder.

"Yes you do" Margaret  slurred catching  back of his neck and pulling his head toward while he hopped backward trying to free himself from the stilettoed foot hooked behind his knee.

"You know I stayed with him just so we can be together just to be near, just to let you know how we could one day find a way to be together. To let you know when the time came it would be just you and me, rid of this damned family.. rid of the useless a whinny nagging attachments of t this family. Just us together " Margaret told him, " so beautiful " she purred, planting her lips on his and forcing her tongue between his mouth while Cole gagged.

Cole knew it was going to happen because he was not lucky; because things always had to happen like that, because Margaret had timed it when every one was in the house and because that was just the way his fate went.

So he did not really react when Phoebe half way down the stairs screeched his name, using a voice she had not used since her days as Queen of Evil.

He did not miss Margaret's self satisfied little pout as Phoebe screamed his name again, bringing an interested Piper, an amused Paige, a bemused Leo and a distraught Victor from the kitchen. The screech must have been loud because a few seconds later Glock came in from the garden, peeping out of the conservatory to watch the show,

"I knew it" Phoebe screamed, a kimono falling loose to reveal boxer pyjamas wrapped around under her belly and her hands on her rapidly disappearing hips and her big brown eyes with angry tears pouring out of them.

Cole took the chance to push a pouting Margaret off him. She managed to still cling to his arm.

"It's not what you think?" Cole said not even getting upset because he knew this was coming from the moment he opened the door to Margaret.

"It's exactly what I think" screamed Phoebe "I know men. It's your god damned fantasy isn't it. You really want an older woman don't you? You want to feel the wrinkled and crabby old skin. Its you always wanted isn’t it" she screamed "some-one near your own age."

Despite himself Cole laughed. He could not help it because if Margaret had any idea what Phoebe was saying would probably have scratched Phoebe's eyes out..

Pipe and Paige who both understood, did snort and Leo curled his lips. Victor hurt and angry hung onto the dining room table wobbling on his feet.

"It's about time you know Victor-Phoebe" Margaret smirked as she clutching at Cole " just Cole and me. It's always been us. Cole has been too honourable to say anything up to now but we can longer hide it.  We can no longer do that to tell the truth"

"Oh go to hell "said Cole disengaging himself. He turned to Margaret" I AM NOT ATTRACTED TO YOU. I DON'T WANT YOU I DON'T DREAMOF YOU. I DON'T EVEN LIKE YOU"

Margaret just purred "Darling you don't have to pretend any more.

Cole gave up and turned to Phoebe. "You saw I was trying to get away from her. I was.."

"I hate you" Phoebe screamed "Look at daddy. How could you even touch her?" she stormed turning her back on him and heading for the s stairs. Cole tried to follow her and held hard by Margaret was completely stopped by Victor taking the opportunity to plant a fist firmly in his face and knocking him to the ground.

"Daddy": hissed Piper

"Get out of my life" Victor told Margaret. "You ugly, selfish… Just get put of my goddamn lifer" he said, then bursting into tears.

"Wow" said Paige

"Ouch" said Cole fingering his bruised face "'get off me" he said as Margaret ran to him.

"Margaret I think you better go" said Paige firmly hauling her off Cole and dragging her to the door. "Tutt Cole " she said looking down at him.

Margaret pulled free "You're not going to separate me from the man I love" she snarled. She turned on Phoebe who had stopped half way up the stairs to stare in shock at her father. "You whinny little bitch" she said "You selfish spoilt whinny brat. You don't deserve a real man and you aren't going to have one. All you want to do is castrate him, neuter him like some damn Ken doll."

"Margaret" said Victor.

"And you" she turned on her husband, "lousy selfish bastard. Fucking useless, grizzling about your damned daughters. You're not even a decent screw."

Piper lifted her hand and froze Margaret, who was left in the middle of the hall, her mouth wide open, her eyes narrowed and her plastic immobile face looking like death mask.

Piper raised her eyes toward Leo and then led Victor to the kitchen where he sat with his head in his hands sobbing." I did love her" he told Piper "I tried so hard."

"How much can one man take?" Victor cried. "Patty losing her to… Prue. How much can one man take?" he demanded.

"I don't know Daddy" Piper said putting her arms around him.

In the hall, Phoebe came down a few stairs and stood looking at Cole lying in a heap on the floor.

"I wish Daddy broken your head" she told Cole "I hate you. I hate you like I never hated any-one and never will. That is my father in there crying."

"It was spites" he said still on the ground. "Phoebe you know damn well it was spite magic and I never did anything."' he stopped then sat up "Oh" he said nastily as she just stood there. "I see blaming me for your own games. You want to so I must have. Or have you already had it?" Cole asked nastily

"Cole" said Leo and Paige.

Phoebe just stared at him, and then turned stalked past him as he sat on the  floor. She hauled a coat from the hook near the door, Piper's long woollen one, grabbed her car keys of the hall table and slammed the front door so hard the glass shuddered ominously.

In the hall Leo and Glock eyed off Cole still on the floor.

"That's a hell; of a bruise" said Leo as Cole fingered his jaw.

"Ha "said Cole

"You know" Leo said pensively "I could figure at the moment any one… but hell Margaret .I thought you had taste.

"Ha" said Cole as Leo hauled him to his feet.

Glock stepped into the hall.

"Just family and magic" said Cole to Glock.

"As I learn " said Glock "as you say one has to live a family to understand it."

"Phoebe is just ..." Cole winced.

"Being difficult "Glock said "You once told me she holds you to account that way."

"I know her well" Cole commented dryly, fingered his bruises

"What pisses me off" said Leo "is why all these damned women are fancying you" he told Cole".

'" Well somewhere out there I am sure there are a bunch of women just aching to stuff up your marriage" Cole told him getting angry.

Leo shook his head and went into the kitchen where Piper was trying to comfort Victor

"Cole wasn't encouraging her ' Leo told him " magic amping their reactions. Women's reactions"

"But she always felt it?" Victor asked bitterly.  "Do you think she was only staying with me because she wanted to get closer to Cole?"

Leo and Piper looked at each other.

"No "said Leo eventually and totally unconvincingly.

"You just wait until you find out all your wife's dreams are wrapped in some-one else and there is nothing you can do to change it" Victor spat.

Leo glanced at Piper and sucked his breathe.

In the hallway Paige put her hands on her hips "You do know that Phoebe has gone to see George don't you"  she asked Cole.

Cole sighed "Yes I know" he said sighing.

"And you do know that she expects you to go after her" Paige demanded. "That she wants to know you care enough to fight for her."

"Ï know "Cole agreed

"Then why aren't you going?" Paige demanded crossing her arms "Aren't you going to fight or her?'

Cole suddenly smiled the one he saved or Phoebe "Of course I am "he said. He rubbed his bruised jaw "just giving her time to get there so I can give George some of the medicine I've been getting lately".

"Good" said Paige uncrossing her arms "What are we going to do with her?" she said looking at the frozen Margaret, her mouth still wide open as she swore at Victor.

"Throw her out with the rest of the trash" Cole suggested.

"Good idea" said Paige. "Maybe orb her somewhere she has quite a walk home" Paige suggested indicating Margaret's high stiletto heels.

"You'll unfreeze her" Cole warned.

"Only for a second' Paige said putting her hand on Margaret who came out of the freeze long enough to see Glock and start screaming before she disappeared in a glow of orbs.

Cole embarrassed, could only look at Glock who dryly told him "At last the enemy in Burvjara wear an insignia and we know who they are,"

"That is a good thing" Cole told him.

"I think so" said Glock.

"I better go get my wife" Cole said and was about to shimmer when he was stoped by a roof lifting wail from the boys' room.

Cole and Glock looked at each other and wincing in pain as another wail caused the glass to shudder.

"Oh shit" Cole said

He went upstairs to find his son alternating between howls and sobs. It took only a few seconds careful examination of Patsy's mouth to know that a tooth was coming through. Pasty clamped the teeth he had on Cole's finger and drew blood.  It cost Cole a great deal not to go into demonic mode to ease the pain himself. For a few seconds Patsy seemed easier and then Cole gave him a drink to clean away the blood and the wails hit hysteria and clung as hard as he could to Cole's neck.  Cole winced when he thought of Phoebe who he was pretty sure was testing him to see if he was coming after her, was doing but unless Piper could manage Patsy, Cole was not going anywhere.

Followed by Glock, Cole carrying clinging and howling and distraught son, went down to the kitchen where Leo and Piper and Paige who had returned from dumping Margaret, were doing their best to comfort Victor.

"We thought daddy could stay: here" Piper said as Patsy let out another ear shattering and terrifying wail.

Piper and Paige and Leo instinctively covered their ears.

"Patsy's teething "Cole said ignoring Victor's look of hatred.

"I'll go to a hotel" Victor said heroically.

"'Possession is 9/10th of the law, well not legally "Cole the lawyer told him "but if this is the end of your marriage and you leave the house its going to take a hell of a time getting it back"

Victor looked at Cole suspiciously "Do you think I care about a house at this time" he asked scornfully.

"You will in about two days time" Cole assured him. "Victor there is nothing between me and Margaret except her fantasy" Cole told Victor who looked doubtful but chose to neither argue nor apologise for the punch, which Glock noted.

Finally after an argument, throughout which Patsy wailed, screamed and clung to daddy,  Piper and Leo agreed to go home with Victor and perhaps encourage Margaret to make the move or at least stay at a hotel.,

Paige looking ay her sobbing nephew offer to take him while Cole went after Phoebe but Patsy would have none of it.

"Maybe he needs demon near him at the moment" Paige suggested. "What about Phoebe?" she asked.

'"Phoebe is a grown witch" Cole finally answered making a decision. 'Patsy needs me. She won't do anything no matter how pissed she is" Cole said confidently."

"If you think so "said Paige doubtfully.

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